Speed-controlling device for phonographs



July 14, 1925. 1,545,840

. F. B. MERRILL SPEED CONTROLLING 'DBVICB FOR PHONOGRAPHS Filed on. a. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY N V E N TOR 1'1 Ber/rand liar/17A WWW/4 July 14; 1-925. 1,545,840

F. a. MERRILL srnn n CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR PHoNocRAPns Filed 001:. 8, 1923' INVENTOR Patented July 14, 1925.

w smite FLOYD BERTR'AN-D MERRILL, or MARQUETTE, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T0 MEnRILn V PATENTSTRUST, or MARQUETTE, MICHIGAN.

SPEED-CONTROLLING DEVICE "non eHoNoGnArHs.

Application filed (October a, 1923. Serial Nb; 667,281.

Tonll whom it may concern:

Be it known "that 1,,Fnorn BnR'rnANn Mnnnrnn, acitizen of the United States, residing at Marquette in the county of Marquette and State of Michigam have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Speed-Controlling Devices for 'Phonographs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the art of fpreparing and playing phonograph records of the disk type. Under the present common I practice the blank to receive and record the selection is rotated at a uniform speed of a given number of revolutions per unit period of time, so that the speed of that portion of the surface of the record "passing beneath the needle is variable, decreasing from the outer edge "of-the record toward the center, 1f the record 1s one commencing at the periphery, or increasing from the center outward if "the record is one commencing adja cent to the center. Thls entails a waste ofthe available recording surface on the 'CllSkS due to the various different circumferences of the mpulse grooves of the records when made in the styleand form ofa fiat disk.

The "avera e circumference of the outer groove 'ofa ten inch record is29 inches and ofthe inner groove 131inches. arevolntion is made by the outer groove in the sameperiod of time as one is completed by the inner groove, .and it is evident that no greater number of sound vibrations are recorded in the outergrooveflthanxin the inner groove, yet the outer groove is over twice the length and presents over twice the recording surface of the inner groove.

The primary object of this invention is to provide .a means whereby the speed of the 1 l0 record surface passing under the recording or reproducing needle is always uniform or constant, instead of the record itselfbeing revolved at a uniform 'nunibenofrevolu tions per minute. By the use of my mven:

tion it should require overtwice the time" to play the outergrooveias is now required, and a correspondingly longer time to play each subsequent groove in accord with its greater length 'or diameter as compared with the inner groove. The result vof'thispractitime it would play if revolvedxat As at present cal means of controli's that twice or more than twice the amounto'f sound vibrations can be recorded on a record of a given size thancan be recorded under the present prac tics of revolving the record at a uniform speed or number of revolutions #per minute. A record of a "given size-made according to my inventionandcontrolled in the manner herein described will play over twice the a uniform speed of rotation. I y

Another object of my invention is to -pro-,

vide a governor device possessing means which will cause the automatic stopping of the machinewhen the-end of the record has PATENT or e.

been reached or when the end of the piece" being played is reached. v

Generical'ly the present invention provides a governor device controlled by the movement 'of the needle over the face" of the record, in such manner as to cause the speed" ofthe record beneath the needle to be constant or substantially so during the entire time the record --is"traveling beneath the needle and to accomplish this result by progressively varying the angular speed of rotation of 5 the record as the need'lekmoves across the face of they same. 7

The invention also includes means for effecting anautomatic stoppageoft he record when the piece being played hasterminated regardless of whether the record being played is onefhaving one or more "pieces recorded on the same face. L

More. specifically the invention *has for its object to providea simple, effective, inexpenslve and self-contained governor umt' which "can be zreadily attached tou any of the standard types of disk phonographsjnow in use, without marring or disfiguring the same, :and to provide means whereby thedevice may be used to play uniform surface speed records orto'play: recordsiof the com mon uniform -angular speed type-now in I general use. v r p a In its more 'subordinate nature the in vention furthermore resides in those novel features of construction, combination and arrangementof parts, an of which will be first fully described, then he specifically Figure 4 is an enlarged detail section of a portion of the device showing how 1t may be rendered inoperative when desired.

Figure 5 is a detail view of one of the governor arms and its immediately cooperating parts.

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail elevation showing the control grooves or keyways.

Figure 7 is a horizontal section on the line 77 of Figure 3 showing the tapering releaseportions of the control grooves.

Figure 8 is a detail horizontal section on the line 88-of Figure 3, showing the means of applying tension to the friction band and drum. 8

Figure 9 is an enlarged detail section showing the manner of securing the two.

parts of the drum together.

Figure 10 1s a face View .of a two selectlon record as made by the use-of my nvention with the recording machine.

Figure 11 is a face view of a single selec- I tion record of double length.

Figure 12 is an enlarged detail face view of the name. label centered for a two selection record such as 1s shown in Fig-;

ure 10.

Figure 13 is an enlarged detail face view of the name label. for a single record such as shown in Figure 11'.

Figure 14 is a' detail crosssection showing the seals over the center hole of the record.

In the drawings in ,which like numerals and letters of reference indicate like parts mall the figures, 52 represents the phonograph which embodiesthe usual turn table 53 with center posts 58 and the mechanism for driving it (not shown), the tone arm 54,

sound box 55 and needle 56,. all of which maybe ofthe usual and conventional con struction. 7 V p The governor orregulatorpdevice which comprises the chief part of my present invention consists of a base. plate 1 which is designed to be secured to the bodyof the phonograph by suitable'screws 4. The base, 1 isoprovided with a slide pocket 2 in which is located a presser spring 3 to engage the end of the slide 6 of the main support 5 for a purpose presently understood.

The main support ,5 has a lower bearing 7 and an upper aperture 8. Into the aperture 8 isprojected the hollow supporting shaft 9 which itself isprovided with a hear: ing 10 for the upper end of the governor case shaft 11, the lower end of which turns in the bearing 7 of the main support 5.

The governor case is of cylindrical form and made of upper and lower parts 12 and 13 respectively secured together by ears 15 which pass through apertures 14 and are clenched over as best shown in Figure 9 of the drawings. I

A friction band 16 is held on the periphery of the governor case and is adapted to be maintained in contact with the periphery of the turn table. by means of the spring 3.

Mounted within the governor case on pivots 17 are governor arms 19 having eccentric and inclined brake faces 18 to cooperate Vwiththe conical brake drum 23 hereinafter again referred to. The arms 19 are providedwith adjustable weights 20 by means of which their actionv may be. adjusted.

Springs 21 on supports 22 serve to counter act the centrifuga action of the weights during rotation of the governor case and maintain the governor arms out of engagement with the brake drum 23 when the governor case is at rest as when the turn table has been stopped by the action of the ordinary brake now provided in connection with phonographs of the usual type.

. The brake drum 23 is provided with a neck 24 which carries a fastening pin 25,

which passes through slots 26 in the hollow support shaft 9 and through the lift shaft 29, theholes of the lift shaft 29 being horifzontally elongated to permit the shaft, 29

to be turned slightly'for a purpose presently explained. 1

The neck 24 has a recess 27 to receive the spring 2-8 for pushing the brake drum down.

30 is a knob on the end of the lift shaft 29 by which it may. be raised and given the slight turn hereinbefore referredto to cause the pin 31 to be raised out of the cross slot 32 and be turned slightly to hold the brake drum up out of operative position when I desired.

The brake drum is provided witha cam groove 33 which has a tapered or throw-out portion 34 and an entrance 35, the latter opening through thetop of the neck. 36 is the control. arm support which is slotted at V 37 for the guide pin to travel in.

control arm is designated by the reference- The numeral 38 and it has a ring 39 by which it'is mounted on the support 36. 40 is the i guidepin and 41 the guide pin spring which maintains the-guide pin in light contact with thecam groove33.

42 designates the control arm return spring, the function of which is to return the controlarm to the initial or starting position as the tone arm is returned to the beginning or. the record.

43 designates the record disk which cooperates with the gove nor device and it consists of'a central orname plate or label -portion 44 and a record groove 45. When two or more pieces are played onone record side a wide spiral separation groove46 may be provided to indicate the dividing placebe-i tween the'two recorded selections.

The center hole 47 of the recorddisk is provided with seals 48 which,after broken,

indicate that the record :has been placed upon a machine and played. 4.9 designates that portion of the'name label 44; on which the record title ortitles are placed and.50 indicates the place Where the manufacturers name and. license condi tions may be put, while the trade mark may be located in the" space5l. When a record is inadegwith 'two selections on one face each space 49 may be utilized for one record'title as indicated in Figure 12.

The records may be either single face or double face as under the present practice and they'may' contain av plurality of selections on each faceas indicated in Figure 11 or a single long selection on each face as indicated in'Figure 10. g

In carrying out'imy invention elther for recording or reproducing purposes, .the

regulating device is-attached to thephonograph to which it is to be applied so that the friction band 16 rides against theedge of the turn table 53 of the machine, the tension spring 3 keeping the friction ilbandin' The regu- P inch record or the ten inch point of 'a larger record. The regulatoigbeing properly applied to the machine, the following action will ta-lre place: When the machine is started, the governor case, by reason of the friction band 16 revolves with the turntable causing the weighted governor balls 20 to be thrown out in accordance with the speed of the governor case as derived from thespeed of the turn table. With theregulator in the starting-position the governor ofthe regucontrolled.

lat-or does not act to control the turn table speed until the speed is greater'than that for the proper starting of the record. When the speed exceeds the proper rate, the brake faces of the governor ball arms will come into contact with the friction cone 23 and thereby cause a retardation of the speed due to the friction produced on these contactsurfaces.

Through the contact of the friction band 16 o'fthe governor case 12 with the turn tahle the speed of the turn table and consequently that of the record will be As therecording or reproducing-needle .travelsin the record grooves toward the center of the record, thus swinging. the tone'arm toward the center'also,

the controlarm'38 willb'e moved "in accordance with'the movement ofthetone arm due xtoith'e travel of the recording or reproducing needle in the record. The movement of the tone arm-moves the control arm 38 around its support '37 and by reason of the lifting pin 4U being engaged in the slantingslot 33 ofthe friction cone 23, the friction cone is gradually raised in exact accordance with the movement of thetonexarm. This-rais- "ing of the friction cone, by reason of its" tapered shape, allows the governor of the regulator to open farther without the brake faces of the governor ball arms coming in contact with the friction cone; therefore as y the tone arm moves the control arm 38 the control arm gradually raises the friction cone therebyallowing a'gradual increase of speed to be attained by the regulator, the turntable and the record because of their relation one to the other. The ultimate result of this action is that as the record is being recorded or played it is started at a given speed and as the recording or reproducing needle follows the threads of the record grooves toward the center of the record, or a the tone arm moves toward the centerofthe record the speed is gradually increased in exact accordance wlth the change n the 011'- cumference of the grooves of the record so as to give a uniform speed to that portion of the record immediately beneath the recording or reproducing needle regardless of where the needle may be on the face of the record.

* When the tone arm has travelled to the centergrooves of therecordlthe lifting pin 40 will havebeen pushed out of engagement with the liftin g slot or keyway 33' by reason of the tapering depth '34 given to this keyway; the spring 28 will then push the friction cone completely down, thereby causing the-governor to close andautomatically stop the machine. tion cone will be such that will keep a proper but uniform speed of the record surface passing under the needle at all positions or places of the needle on the face of the record. After recording or playing a record and the needle is raised from it and the tone arm swung back the spring 42 will turn the control arm 38 to its starting position and the lifting pin 40 will then be again engaged in the entrance 35 of the lifting slot 33. Thus the regulator is automatically made ready to repeat these-operations.

When it is desired to play records of the present type, namely, those requiring a uniform angularspeed of rotation or uniform number of revolutions per minute, all that is The taper, given to thefricb 'ake drum 23 is raised up out of the way of the regulator governor brakes and in this position the device does not in any way interfere with the operation of the phonograph to which it has been attached for the playing of the present type of uniform revolution records. When it is desired ;to

again play records requiring the uniform speed under the needle, the knob 30 is turned back so that the pin 31 again engages in the slot in the support shaft and thus the friction cone is again brought into position for controlling the record speed.

My invention can be used on machines playing records of either the Hill and dale or the lateral cut type or any type or kind of disk records. 7

By providing the record with a spiral cut groove 46 of greater width than the regular grooves employed for sound recording the end of one selection on the record and the beginning of another caneasily be seen,

thereby making itpossible to lower the reproducing needle into the leading grooves of the second selection for its'playing if desired.

By having the paper name disk orlabel l4 cover the turn table post hole in the record, the seal 47 forming a part of the label 44, protection against playing the record before it reaches the hands of the ultimate purchaser may be had, for if the record is played the paper covering the center post hole will be broken by the center post when the record is placed on the turn table for playing.

Vhile I-have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention it is obvious that modifications of the same can be made and changes in the details of 0011- device controlled by the movement of the needle across the record for causing said turn table to rotate Wltll'lilllt portion of the record beneath the needle at a constant speed, and including means to stop the machine when the piece is finished.

2. In combination with a phonograph having a turn table, means to drive it, and a tone arm with sound box and needle; of a device relatively fixed as to location and engaging the periphery of the turn table to progressively vary the speed of rotation of the turn table as the needle travels across the record, said device including means to. stop the turn table when the record is finished. l

3. In phonographs wherein is provided a turn table, driving means for the same,

ernor case rotatable with and by the turn table, centrifugal governor arms in the case, varlable brake surfaces .with which said arms cooperate, and means to vary the brake surface with regard to said arms, thereby to vary the speed of rotation of the turn table.

4:. In phonographs wherein is provided a turn table, driving means for the same, a

tone arm supported to swing above the turn table, and a sound box and needle, a speed controlling device forprogressively varying the speed of rotation of theturn table as the sound box traverses the record, said speed controlling device comprisinga governor case rotatable with and by the turn table, centrifugal governor arms in the case, variable brake surfaces with which said arms cooperate, andmeans cooperative with .the movement of the needle acrossthe record to vary the brake surface with regard to said arms, thereby to vary the speed of ro- ,tation of the turn table. o

- 5. An automatic record speed control for the making and reproduction of phonograph records of the disk type, which comprises a speed, governor mechanism with provision for progressively varying the speed of rotation' of the record as the needle travels across the face of the record, and means constituting a part of said governor mechanism for automatically bringing the record to a stop at its end.

6. A device of. the character described, comprising a support, a governor case rotatablymounted on said support, and having provisions for rotating with the turn table.

of a phonograph, centrifugal brake arms pivoted in said case and having brake surfaces, ashiftable brake drum, means for holding said drum against rotation and in. cooperative position with respect to said brake arms, means to shift said drum to vary the speed of rotation of said case and hence vary the speed of rotation of the turn I table to maintain a substantially constant speed of the movmg sound groove beneath the needle. v

i: 7. A device of the character described, con'iprisinga support, a governor case rotatably mounted on said support, and having provisions for rotating with the turn table of a phonograph, centrifugal brake arms pivoted in said case and having brake surfaces, a shiftable; brake drum, means for holdlng sa1d drum against rotation and in cooperative position with respect to said brake arms,- means to shift said drum according to the position ofthe needle on the record to vary the speed of rotation of said case andhence vary the speed of rotation of the turn table to maintain a substantially constant speed of the moving sound groove beneath the needle. 7 v

8. A device of; the character described, comprising a support, a governor-case rotat ably mounted on. said support, and having provisions for rotating with the turn table of a phonograph, centrifugal brake arms pivoted in said case and having brake surfaces, a shiftable brake drum, means for holding said drum against rotation and in cooperative position with respect to said brake arms, meansto shift said drum to vary the speed of rotation of said case and hence vary the speed of rotation of the turn table to maintain a substantially constant speed of the moving sound groove beneath the needle, and means to control said shifting means by the movement of the tone arm.

9. In a speed control mechanism for phonographs, a rotatable case adapted to be cooperatively connected with the turn table of a phonograph and'rotate in harmony with the same, centrifugal governor elements pivotally mounted in the case, means for rotatably sustaining the case, a brake drum cooperative with said governor elements, and means operable in harmony with the movement of the needle across the record for changing the location of the brake drum thereby to vary the action of the same in accordance with the travel of the needle across the record.

10. An attachment for phonographs comprising a base plate, a main support slidably carried by said base plate, a governor case rotatably mounted. in said main support, a friction band on the periphery of said governor case adapted to engage the periphery of the turn table and be rotated thereby, means for holding the friction band in contact with the turn table, a support shaft mounted on said main support and having a bearing,said governor case including a shaft journalled in said bearing and in a bearing on said main support, a brake drum slidably mounted on said support shaft and including a brake cone projected into said governor case, pivoted centrifugally operated.

governor arms mounted in said governor case and adapted to cooperate with said brake drum to retard the rotation of said governor case, and means operated for shifting said brake drum for the purposes described.

11. An attachment for phonographs comprising a base plate, a main support slidably carried by said base plate, a governor case rotatably mounted ii -said main support, a friction band on the periphery of said governor case adapted to engage the periphery of the turn table and be rotated thereby,

slidably mountedon said supportjjsha'ft and.

includinga brake cone projected into. governor; case, pivoted "centrifuga'lly opera 'ated governor arms mounted in said gover= nor case and adapted to cooperate with said brake drum to retard the rotation of said governor case, said brake drum having a neck provided with a main groove, a control arm, a gulde pin carried by said control arm to operate in said main groove, said control arm adapted to be moved to vary the position. ofsaid brake drum with respect to said governor arms. i

12. An attachment for phonographs com prising a base plate, a main support slidably carried by said base plate, a governor case rotatably mounted in said main support, a

friction band on the periphery of said governor case adapted to engage the periphery of the turn table and be rotated thereby,

means for holding the friction band in contact with the turn table, a'support shaft mounted on said main support and having a bearing, said governor case including a shaft journalled in said bearing and in a bearing on said main support, a brake drum with respect to the centrifugal elements,

slidably mounted on said support shaft and including a brake cone projected into said a neck provided with a main groove, a con-,

trol arm, a guide pin carried by said control arm to operate in said main groove, said control arm adapted to be moved to vary the position of said brake drum with respect to said governor arms, and means for disconnecting said guide pin from said groove at a predetermined place, and means'for forcing said brake drum into stopping engagement with said governor arms.

13. A'device of the character described, comprising a base plate, a main support-including a slide operating in the pocket in said base plate, a presser spring in said pocket engaging said slide, said main support having an upper and lower bearing, a governor case provided with a shaft journalled in said lower bearing, a hollow sup-r port shaft held in said upper bearing and itself having a bearing for said governor case shaft, a friction band on-the periphery of said governor case, governor arms with weights pivotally mounted in said governor case, means tending to move said arms in one direction, a hollow brake drum with a neck slidably mounted around said hollow sup port shaft, spring for holding said brake drum down into operable engagement with said governor arms, a control arm support v a control. arm mounted on said support, a

guide pin retractably mounted on said control arm, a lift shaft mounted in said hollow support shaft and pin connected with said brake drum collar, said hollow support shaft having a slot through which the pin connection "passes, and means cooperative with said lift shaft'to hold the sameelevated with said brake drum out vof operative FLOYD BERTRAND MERRILL. 

